End of an era: Fergus Sweeney retires on winning note at Kempton

Group 1-winning jockey Fergus Sweeney has retired with immediate effect after winning on Purple Paddy at Kempton on Tuesday evening, bringing to an end a 25-year riding career.

Sweeney, whose biggest success in the saddle came on Twilight Son in the Sprint Cup at Haydock in 2015, announced last month he would retire from the saddle in November, but the 41-year-old has opted to go out on a winning note.

He partnered the Jimmy Fox-trained Purple Paddy in division two of the mile handicap at Kempton, and the four-year-old rallied for pressure to lead in the closing stages to win by a neck.

Sweeney said: "I just wanted to go out on a winner. I only planned to ride to the November Handicap meeting.

"The rides have been few and far between and it's more important for me to go out on a winner than scratch around for the next couple of weeks and take the chance of not riding a winner."

Sweeney had already revealed that he is to join former weighing-room colleague Steve Drowne by joining the BHA's stewarding team in the coming months.

"I officially start on December 2," he said. "I'll keep riding out for a few weeks yet and then I'll have a nice break and come back fresh for my new role."

Get ahead of the game with Get Your Eye In - exclusive Saturday preview content on the Racing Post mobile app from 2pm on Friday